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Pad Thai, kiwis and the chef Ken Hom

The disputed history of Thailand’s national dish, why the Chinese gooseberry was rechristened the kiwi, and how chef Ken Hom introduced TV audiences to Chinese cookery.

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week’s Witness History episodes from the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service.

This week, we look at the disputed history of pad Thai with food writer Chawadee Nualkhair.

We also hear from former fruit exporter Don Turner on why his family changed the name of the Chinese gooseberry to the kiwi fruit.

Our expert guest is food historian, Prof Katarzyna Cwiertka, who highlights other moments in history when food and politics combined.

We also have an interview with Thomas Chatenier, the president of Nutella, about the origins of the chocolate hazelnut spread.

Plus, we talk about the Flavr Savr tomato - the world's first genetically-engineered food.

And finally we hear from Ken Hom, the chef who introduced Chinese cookery to TV audiences.

Contributors:
Chawadee Nualkhair – Thai food writer.
Don Turner – former chief executive of kiwi exporter, Turners and Growers.
Katarzyna Cwiertka - food historian and Professor of Modern Japan Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Thomas Chatenier - the president of Nutella.
Roger Salquist – former CEO of the biotech company which was responsible for the Flavr Savr tomato.
Ken Hom – Chinese-American chef and author.

(Photo: Pad Thai. Credit: Getty Images)

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52 minutes

Last on

Tue 2 Jan 2024 00:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 30 Dec 2023 14:06GMT
  • New Year's Day 2024 10:06GMT
  • Tue 2 Jan 2024 00:06GMT

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